Adjustable brake-head.



P. R. CORNWALL.

ADJUSTABLE BRAKE HEAD.

PPLIGATION FILED .TAN 10,1910. I

Patented June '7, 1910.

Fla 2' W 7 1 A H w a V m IN l E/YTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFICE.

.FBEDEBIOK B. CORNWALL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A$SIGNOR TO CHICA GO RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 10, 1910. Serial No. 537,139.

.ADJUST-ABLE BRAKE-HEAD.

Patented June "3', 1910.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK R. Conn- WALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a.

tion, n wh1ch Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through my improved adjustable brake head.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the same. 7 Y This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in adjustable brake heads de signed especially for use inconnection with trussed brake beams, and

that ty e of trussed brake am wherein the thrust lock or member on which the brake head is adjustably mounted, may be provided with an opening extending therethrough from side to s1de.

The object of my present invention is to utilize the ex ansive energies of the spring so that the full power thereof is directed in opposite directions, and preferably radially, against the wall of the socket of the brake head to frictionally hold said brake head inadjustable osition. I

Locking b ocks with serrated surfaces 7 have been extensively used in" connection with adjustable brake heads, but one objection to this form of adjusting device, and which objection obtains with respect to all similar forms of adjusting devices, is, that the adjustment can only be made in equidistant steps. There is no means for holding the brake head in a osition-between any two steps, and if, in t e application of the brakes, the head is moved to a position between the steps, such movement, on account of the inclined faces of the serrations, will be repeated, and in a reverse direction, when the brakes are released, and consequently considerable wear will result between the head andjhe part on which it is mounted.

My present unprovement contem lates the use of smooth faced friction bloc s which will hold the brakehead in any adjusted position, and consequently after the brakes are once applied .and the head is adjusted, there is no return movement of the head to articularly with presse a position previously occupied, and conse quently there is little or no wear between the head and the part of the beam on which it is mounted, because there is no movement between these parts.

Anotherfeature of myinvention'is the utilization of a single spring whose expansive energies are exerted outwardly to move friction blocks, preferably in a radial direction, and transverse the axis of the beam.

'In the drawings, 1 indicates the compression member and 2 the thrust block or part on which the brake head is mounted. This thrust block is providedwith a threaded extension 2, towhich the tension rod is connected. I make no claim to this construction of beam as the same forms no part of this invetnion.

3 is the brake head whose socketis pro- -vided with oppositely 'disposedgrooves 3.

The thrust block is preferably provided I with a non-circular opening 2 extending transversely therethrough, in which opening are arranged two friction blocks 4, and an interposed coiled spring 5. The expans'ive energies .of this coiled spring are exerted outwardly, so as to move the friction blocks in a direction transverse the axis of the beam and cause them to engage the inner face of the socket of the brake head and bind the same against movement. In placing the head in position, the blocks are inwardly by some suitable instrument, and the head slipped in position. When the blocks re ister with the groove 3, they move outward y and thus lock the head against longitudinal displacement. The head can be rotata'bly adjusted on the beam and the friction of the outwardly ressed blocks will hold said head in such a justed position. To further provide against the longitudinal movement of the head, a cotter pin, (not shown), may be" arranged in the opening 2, said cotter pin being long enough to have its ends extend in the path of movement of the head. To remove the head from the beam it is only necessary to give the head a quarter turn, when the inclined ends of the grooves 3 will cause the friction blocks to move inwardly, and when said friction blocks engage with the reduced diameter of the socket, the head may he slipped from the beam.

It is obvious that the faces of the friction blocks 4 may be roughened or corrugated so as to increase their holding qualities, but in the preferred form of my invention, the faces are smooth, as shown. Where two friction blocks are employed with an interposed spring between them, the power of such single spring is equal to the power of two similar springs seated in pockets as has heretofore been thepractice. The two outwardly pressed friction blocks with smooth faces and having a spring interposed between them will ordinarily be sufficient to hold the head in position on the beam against gravitation,

I claim:

L'The combination of a brake head, of

v a part on which the same is mounted, and

expanding friction blocks carried by said part. I

2. The combination of abrake head, apart on which the same is mounted,blocks carried by said art, and a spring interposed between said blocks for pressing them outwardly.

3. The combination of a brake head having a grooved socket, a part on which said brake head is mounted, and expanding blocks carried by said part and coil crating gitl the grooves in the socket of t e brake 4. The combination of a brake head having a grooved socket, a part on which the same is mounted, friction blocks carried by amass said art,. and a spring interposed between said locks for forcing the same outwardly into 006 erative relation with the, grooved socket o the brake head.

5. The combinatiom of a brake head, a part on which the same is mounted, said part being provided with a non-circular transverse y isposed opening, blocks mounted in said opening and ca able of outward movement, and means or moving said blocks outwardly.

6. The combination of a brake head, a part on which the same istmounted, expansible blocks carried by'said part and .means also carried by said part for moving said blocks outwardly to hold the head in rotatable adjusted positions.

7. The combination with a. brake head, of a part on which said head is mounted and with res ect to which said head is rotatably adustab e, a plurality offfoutwardly movab e elements carried by said part, and means within the part for moving said .elements outwardly to bind the head in adjust able positions. I I

In testimony whereof I hereunto ax my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 8th day of January, 1910.

FREDERICK a. coaami.

Witnesses:

M. 1?. SMITH, L. Como. 

